FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, November 1, 2024
Cornel West for President
[email protected]

[Washington, D.C.] – Yesterday, the Supreme Court's decision to reject Dr. Cornel West's request for ballot access in Pennsylvania has stirred a nationwide conversation on democracy and voter rights. Justice Samuel Alito's ruling comes despite Dr. West's clear path forward and Pennsylvania voters' undeniable right to choose an alternative to the two major parties. Make no mistake: Pennsylvanians can write in "Cornel West" for President, and their vote will count.

In a year marked by challenges to ballot access, this decision underscores why our campaign fights tirelessly for the voice of the people. West's campaign offers a true alternative for those disillusioned by candidates aligned with big-money interests, military-industrial ties, and corporate influence. The ruling today highlights the very barriers we seek to dismantle to ensure democracy remains accessible for all Americans.

"Pennsylvania, don't settle for the 'lesser of two evils,'" Dr. West urged. "With a write-in for Cornel West, you're not just casting a vote—you're making a statement against a political system that silences third-party voices and preserves the status quo. Vote your conscience, and let's show that our voices cannot be dismissed." Dr. West added, "If you decide to cast an anti-fascist vote for the war criminal Harris, I do not demonize you - I simply disagree!"

Edwin DeJesus, spokesperson for the West/Abdullah campaign, addressed the broader implications of the decision, stating, "While the focus often falls on foreign election interference, it pales in comparison to what we're witnessing in our own courtrooms. Justice Alito, appointed by former President George W. Bush—whose administration perpetuated war crimes—represents a federal judiciary increasingly co-opted by corporate and institutional power. This is precisely why we need reform to keep our democracy accountable and in the hands of the people."

The West/Abdullah campaign remains committed to offering a meaningful choice in this election. With a presence across battleground states like Michigan, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, our campaign is a powerful reminder of the growing movement toward a more inclusive, representative democracy. Pennsylvanians now have the power to amplify that movement by writing in “Cornel West” and sending a clear message that their voice will not be ignored.

The West/Abdullah campaign has the signatures and minor party nominations it needs to get on the ballot in 16 states. This includes 6 of the battleground states: Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Virginia and North Carolina. For details on where Dr. West and Dr. Abdullah will appear on the ballot across the United States, please see our campaign's ballot access map.

How to Write In Cornel West

Pennsylvania voters: Write "Cornel West" in the space for President on your ballot. Ensure the spelling is correct, and your vote will be counted as a stand for democracy and justice.

About the Case

This case centers on the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which ensures that no state shall deny any person within its jurisdiction equal protection under the law. To learn more about the 14th Amendment, visit: 14th Amendment - U.S. Constitution.

About Dr. Cornel West

Dr. West, affectionately known to many as Brother West, is the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice at Union Theological Seminary.

Dr. West is the former University Professor at Harvard University, Professor Emeritus at Princeton University and the first Black person to receive a Ph.D. In Philosophy from Princeton University. He has written 20 books and he is best known for his classics, Race Matters and Democracy Matters, and for his memoir, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud. He delivered the historic Gifford lectures at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in Spring 2024.

Dr. West enters the 2024 Presidential contest at a time in which he describes a national crisis of moral bankruptcy and spiritual obscenity driven by a derelict duopoly of both major parties that equally places profits over people and the planet. West asserts that running as an Independent candidate affords him the opportunity and duty to deliver policy prescriptions incorporated by and for the people, instead of political parties beholden to corporations and special interest groups who feel no solidarity with poor and working-class people of all races, gender identities, and age groups.

The Cornel West Campaign to empower poor and working people everywhere stands at a pivotal moment in history, committed to being a true campaign for people around the globe. Our aim is and will always be to unite in solidarity with movements of truth and justice, who seek a choice beyond empire, white supremacy, capitalism, patriarchy, and the confines of the corporate-dominated two-party system.

About Dr. Melina Abdullah

Melina Abdullah is Professor of Pan-African Studies at Cal State LA’s College of Ethnic Studies, Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter - Los Ángeles and Black Lives Matter Grassroots, where she is also Director. She is a leader in the California Faculty Association (the faculty union), both locally and statewide, and mama of three. Dr. Abdullah earned her Ph.D. from University of Southern California in Political Science and her B.A. from Howard University in African American Studies. Abdullah has authored numerous articles and book chapters. Known by the moniker, Doc Melly Mel, she is creator, host, and producer of the radio programs Move the Crowd on KPFK 90.7 FM and This Is Not a Drill! on KBLA Talk 1580, and is a recognized expert on race, gender, class, and social movements. In April 2024, Abdullah was announced as vice-presidential pick for Dr. Cornel West in his run for president of the United States on a platform of “Truth, Justice, and Love.” She is the first Muslim to run for the vice-presidency.

Learn more about Cornel West at CornelWest2024.com. 

Learn more about Dr. West’s Policy Pillars at CornelWest2024.com/Platform.

For more details and press inquiries, please contact [email protected].